BIFA Awards
clients, supply chain emissions analysis showed that road freight emissions could be cut by 25%. Naturally, Woodland Group is also working on its own carbon footprint. The installation of solar panels at its Heathrow site is complete and a similar project started in February at the company’s Doncaster facility. Andy Papps, head of corporate services, said: “Doncaster will be our flagship sustainable site. It is newly built and has features like surface water collection and a rail port.” He believes rail has “the best chance it has ever had” for a resurgence, partly because it has a lower carbon footprint than trucking but also because many haulage companies are struggling with the cost of vehicles and fuel, a lack of new drivers and the downturn in the economy. “So we are offering rail as an alternative,” Papps said. “We are also doing HVO and electric vehicle trials at Doncaster, and we are looking at offering an HGV driver apprenticeship.” Unusual initiatives While the focus of Woodland Group’s BIFA Award entry was on the well-established topic of carbon emissions, it has also set For example, the company is working to improve biodiversity around its facilities. “Most of our UK sites have bee hotels that our staff have built – usually from waste pallets,” said Warren. This is part of Woodland Group’s global team- building project aimed at supporting local biodiversity. Since then, the company has hosted ‘Environ(Mental) Days’ at a number of its sites. These involve staff planting trees, installing flowerbeds and building wildlife habitats, thus combining the mental health benefits of time spent outdoors and in community with environmentally beneficial activity. Woodland Group also organises volunteering sessions where staff assist with forestry work, or even with sports days aimed at children with disabilities – demonstrating that the scope of sustainability these days is broad indeed. Ultimately, it sees sustainability as a defining issue of our time. up some rather unusual sustainability initiatives.
Woodlanders volunteer for one of the company’s sustainability initiatives.
Woodland Group tackles de fi ning issue of our time
Winning the fi rst BIFA Award for Sustainable Logistics and the Environment , Woodland Group demonstrated its steadfast commitment to environmental responsibility through a broad range of initiatives, including carbon reporting
I n terms of Woodland Group’s contribution to its customers’ green targets, its carbon calculator is a vital tool. “We collect raw data from our operating system and feed it through a carbon reporting kit with emissions factors taken direct from carriers or vehicle manufacturers, for instance,” outlined Sam Warren, sustainability manager. “We can be very specific according to mode or even down to carrier level and all public reporting is independently verified,” he added. Accredited by Smart Freight Centre, Woodland Group’s carbon calculator aligns with the GLEC Framework and meets standards such as EN 16258, the GHG protocol and ISO 14083. Included in calculations are transport distances, energy consumption, greenhouse gases and air pollutants, as well as detailed emissions for well-to-wheel (WTW) and tank-to-wheel (TTW). Built directly into the company’s operational system, the calculator automatically determines transfer points for ports, airports and railway stations, includes network- specific attributes such as street category or electrification, and automatically detects stopovers
based on flight numbers. Customers’ interest in carbon reporting goes beyond simply measuring emissions post hoc, though. Warren said: “Many are now asking for hypothetical scenarios so they can choose the transport option that will reduce their emissions the most.” Examples of this in action include comparisons between keeping production in the Far East and shipping goods to the UK by sea, or moving manufacturing to Europe. Despite the shorter distance, the increased road freight component of the latter option would have resulted in higher emissions. For another of Woodland Group’s
“ Doncaster will be our fl agship sustainable site. – Andy Papps, Woodland
Sustainable Logistics and the Environment
American Airlines Cargo provides one of the largest cargo networks in the world with cargo terminals and interline connections across the globe. Every day, American transports cargo between major cities in the US, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle, the airlines operate an average of approximately 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in over 50 countries
16 | March 2024
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